Goals:

0-1: Mason (82, dinked a shot over Pantilimon after being put through by Lamela’s lovely pass)

Bookings: Vertonghen (16, foul); Borini (20, foul); Jones (42, foul)

Referee: Craig Pawson (Halifax) – got a number of decisions wrong to frustrate the home fans but he was not the man to blame for this defeat. 5

Attendance: 40, 303

Entertainment: PP

Shots on 2 4

Shots off 10 11

Corners 6 8

Offsides 1 1

Fouls 11 12

SUNDERLAND (4-2-3-1):

5 Pantilimon: Showed good hands without ever really having to make a difficult save and was then beaten;

7 Jones: Joined in with the attacks when he could and made one impressive headed clearance in the second half

7 KABOUL: A commanding presence from start to finish against his former club

6 O’Shea: Seems to be developing a good understanding with Kaboul at the heart of the defence

6 Van Aanholt: After a shaky start he attacked with purpose and his defending was much improved;

6 Gomez: A solid if unspectacular return to action in the middle of midfield for the Spaniard

7 M’Vila: Keeps things ticking over so confidently and should be a big asset this season;

6 Lens: Made a couple of lovely passes in the final third but didn’t see enough of possession after the restart

6 Toivonen: Started brightly but tired, even if he showed enough to suggest he could work well with Defoe

6 Borini: Showed some lovely touches and displayed the kind of workrate in both directions that will be welcomed down the left

6 Defoe: Should have scored after making the sort of runs behind a defence he has made his name from.

Subs:

Watmore (for Borini 72)

Cattermole (for Gomez 72)

Rodwell (for Toivonen 82)

(not used): Mannone (gk), Larsson, Graham, Coates.

TOTTENHAM (4-2-3-1): Lloris 6; Walker 7, Alderweireld 5, Vertonghen 7, Davies 5; Dier 6, MASON 8 (Carroll 85); Chadli 6, Alli 5 (Lamela 67, 5), Son 4 (Townsend 62, 5); Kane 5. Subs: Vorm (gk), Rose, Trippier, Winks.

MAN OF THE MATCH: RYAN Mason – frustrated Sunderland with his tenacity and then applied the bit of magic to win the game.